ONIRIK

Tech/Extreme Prog Metal • Portugal

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Onirik biography
Onirik is one of three Portuguese black metal projects of the multi-instrumentalist known only as Gonius Rex (who also records as Qui Incenditur and Noite). Based in Lisbon, Rex formed Onirik in 2002 as a personal songwriting outlet after spearheading the short-lived like-minded trio Mors Liberatrix from 1995 to 1998. According to Rex, Onirik's occult lyrical conceits (performed in English and, on rare occasions, Portuguese) are inspired by "dreams and immaterial suggestions of time and space, visions that reflect a general approach to human damnation...and personal enlightenment through the flames."

The project started as an orthodox yet idiosyncratic interpretation of second-wave black metal, smitten with Satyricon, Emperor, Mayhem and Darkthrone. After releasing two demos and a split between 2003 and 2005, Rex followed up with three full-length albums: Songs for the Apocalipse (2005; Skull Productions), Spectre (2007; Nightmare Productions) and After Centuries of Silence (2009; War Arts Productions). All tracks were improvised and recorded quickly within a couple weeks, with Rex handling vocals, guitar and drum programming. Revealing influence from Ved Buens Ende and Abigor, Onirik's progressive songwriting truly bloomed on Casket Dream Veneration (2015; Necroshrine Records), the beginning of a musical trilogy with vastly improved technical and compositional prowess (an advancement which Rex claimed was the result of a spiritual pact with Satan). The LP was the first to feature outside musicians in the form of session drummer David Santos (aka Soul Reaper; of Shrine of Insanabilis).

Rex followed up with the MMXIV-MMXVI split with Belgian black metal band Grimfaug in 2017, on which the latter's sole member Norgaath briefly joined the Onirik lineup on bass along with drummer Manuel Rodrigues (aka Menthor; of Nightbringer, Epping Forest and others). The trilogy's next two entries - 2020's The Fire Cult Beyond Eternity and 2025's Curling Serpents Under Stone - were released by I, Voidhanger Records; the former LP now showcasing former Enslaved drummer Per H�varstein Huseb� (aka Dirge Rep; introduced to Rex by noted Onirik fan Thomas Tannenberger of Abigor) with additional contributions from Thy Darkened Shade's Semjaza, and the latter returning to a one-man operation while toning down the proggy elements.

Onirik comes highly recommended to fans of post-Ved Buens Ende artists like Kathaaria, Whirling, Monte Penumbra, Alkuharmonian Kantaj...Onirik is one of three Portuguese black metal projects of the multi-instrumentalist known only as Gonius Rex (who also records as Qui Incenditur and Noite). Based in Lisbon, Rex formed Onirik in 2002 as a personal songwriting outlet after spearheading the short-lived like-minded trio Mors Liberatrix from 1995 to 1998. According to Rex, Onirik's occult lyrical conceits (performed in English and, on rare occasions, Portuguese) are inspired by "dreams and immaterial suggestions of time and space, visions that reflect a general approach to human damnation...and personal enlightenment through the flames."

The project started as an orthodox yet idiosyncratic interpretation of second-wave black metal, smitten with Satyricon, Emperor, Mayhem and Darkthrone. After releasing two demos and a split between 2003 and 2005, Rex followed up with three full-length albums: Songs for the Apocalipse (2005; Skull Productions), Spectre (2007; Nightmare Productions) and After Centuries of Silence (2009; War Arts Productions). All tracks were improvised and recorded quickly within a couple weeks, with Rex handling vocals, guitar and drum programming. Revealing influence from Ved Buens Ende and Abigor, Onirik's progressive songwriting truly bloomed on Casket Dream Veneration (2015; Necroshrine Records), the beginning of a musical trilogy with vastly improved technical and compositional prowess (an advancement which Rex claimed was the result of a spiritual pact with Satan). The LP was the first to feature outside musicians in the form of session drummer David Santos (aka Soul Reaper; of Shrine of Insanabilis).

Rex followed up with the MMXIV-MMXVI split with Belgian black metal band Grimfaug in 2017, on which the latter's sole member Norgaath briefly joined the Onirik lineup on bass along with drummer Manuel Rodrigues (aka Menthor; of Nightbringer, Epping Forest and others). The trilogy's next two entries - 2020's The Fire Cult Beyond Eternity and 2025's Curling Serpents Under Stone - were released by I, Voidhanger Records; the former LP now showcasing former Enslaved drummer Per H�varstein Huseb� (aka Dirge Rep; introduced to Rex by noted Onirik fan Thomas Tannenberger of Abigor) with additional contributions from Thy Darkened Shade's Semjaza, and the latter returning to a one-man operation while toning down the proggy elements.

Onirik comes highly recommended to fans of post-Ved Buens Ende artists like Kathaaria, Whirling, Monte Penumbra, Alkuharmonian Kantaja and Doldrums.read more

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ONIRIK Videos (YouTube and more)

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ONIRIK discography

Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

ONIRIK top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.00 \| 1 ratings Songs for the Apocalipse 2005	0.00 \| 0 ratings Spectre 2007	0.00 \| 0 ratings After Centuries of Silence 2009	4.00 \| 1 ratings Casket Dream Veneration 2015
4.00 \| 1 ratings The Fire Cult Beyond Eternity 2020	0.00 \| 0 ratings Curling Serpents Under Stone 2025

ONIRIK Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

ONIRIK Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

ONIRIK Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

ONIRIK Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

2.00 | 1 ratings

The Final War
2003

0.00 | 0 ratings

Walking as a Shadow
2004

0.00 | 0 ratings

Onirik / Grimfaug: MMXIV-MMXVI
2017

ONIRIK Reviews

Showing last 10 reviews only

Thanks to gordy for the artist addition.

3.00 \| 1 ratings Songs for the Apocalipse 2005	0.00 \| 0 ratings Spectre 2007	0.00 \| 0 ratings After Centuries of Silence 2009	4.00 \| 1 ratings Casket Dream Veneration 2015
4.00 \| 1 ratings The Fire Cult Beyond Eternity 2020	0.00 \| 0 ratings Curling Serpents Under Stone 2025